Underfloor duct box



July 7, 1936. H. s. WALKER UNDERFLOOR DUCT BOX original Filed Nov. 25, 1953 Aff/ll INVENTOR Hex-Luca S. Walid. BY

wmumm; ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1936 UNDERJF'LOORv DUCT BOX Hervey S. Walker, Ardmore, Pa.

Original application-November 25, 1933, Serial `No. 699,649. Divided and thisapplication MayV 26,1934, Serial No.e72'7,'l13` f s claims. (o1. .24v-

This invention relates to electrical wiring systems :of the concealed type, such as are in- Astalled'in the floors of oflice andsimilar buildings and known as underoor duct systems.' 1 More particularly,` the invention. is concerned with a novel junction box for use in such systems at thek intersections of the. runs of duct, the new box being ',of simple'ruggedv construction y,and providing asatisfactory andy inexpensive device for permitting the crossingof the ducts, aiording access to the wiring of the fsystem, and supplying current to the system .wiring from a ydistribution center. `The new box .is primarily intended for usein a wiringrv system made up of runs of duct with three `ducts Yin each run, and its interior structure is such as to provide separate passages across the interior of the box in two directions through which the wiring fromaligned ductston vopposite sides of the box may be led. It includes other y:features of novelty, however, which'areapplicable to various other boxes `of the vsame ,generaltype Thenew box ,comprises a..- body which -is formed in part of a bottom having integral side walls provided with openings kfor the reception .oi the ends of 4ducts'andspaces,which may be tapped toreeeivevthe ends of conduits for supply wires. Within the body is a. removable partition member which rests on the bottom and is held in .place 'by suitable means. Thisgpartition member :has spaced vertical flanges on its Ktop and bottom surfaceswhichipartially,dene .wiring passagesl extending both :over and.,..under .the membenzthe top and bottom fpassagesvbeing closed bythe bottom of V,the .box and atop member, respectively. The topmemberV .hassan opening through `which access -is afforded to .the interiorof the box andthe openingais Vclosed by a cover in a mounting whichrmayibe of such form as to provide'adjustment off-.the -.height of the cover suriaceabove,thev top ;mern Jber. The coverxandrits mounting may take Ydifferent forms xdepending;upon the typemf floor construction in which the :boxfis `to be installed. Y Y Y For a better understandingeof theinvention,

Vreference may bemade torthe :accompanying drawing, `in, kwhich Fig lis a plan view of ,the new top removed; Y v

Fig 2 is a'planrview with .the `top 1in "place ,and the: cover removed; mFig. zisga'sideview ofi,` the box; 4and .'Fig. i 4 is ,1 a;:sectiona1view on the; line I4-a4 of Fig. 2. L Y

mama-th As illustrated in the drawing, the newfbox, which is made of metal, comprises-a bottom member 2 having :integral sidewalls 2|, which are.' formed so as tovgiverthevbox afgenerally square -outline butwith the corners cutoff. Each wall is providedwith three openings 22, 23, and 24 for the reception of ducts and these openings extend up to VtheH-upper edge of the side wall with adjacent openings separated by vertical membersf 25. Thethree walls of each 10l opening are channelled, asrindieated at 26, for thefreception lof packing material by which: the entrance `,of moisture into the` `box `around the endsof: the ducts is prevented.`

Within Vthe Abox vis a partition member 2l, 1"5v which may. be made -as -a single casting and this-member is providedatits-top with spacedV vertical langes" 28v which extend across the box andpartially Vdefine a -passage'` 29 -for wiring whichleads across l the top vof the partition memberffrom the/middle opening in Yone-.wall ofi.. the' boxffto the-corresponding opening vin Vthe 'oppositevwall .VK On-its underside the partition member Ais provided=1w1`th similar spaced' flanges 30 extending across lthe box and partially deningUa1-passage -3| which leads' beneath the partition memberfirom 'themiddle duct opening 'ati one side'lof the boxi to thecorresponding kopening in the opposite wall. The passagesj29 and y3l 'are at rightangles and theyy Aare lin communication through -an opening 32 through the.,partitionV memben The flanges'rest on 1thef: bottom of 'the Abox so thatthe flanges, the bottomA of the box,V and the generally horizontal iportionof the partition member cooperate to 1 :enclose the passage 3 I The Y maj orhorizontal -portinof-Zthe partition member lies substantially linalignment -witlfi the bottom of the'`v openings in the side walls of the box, and in-order thatwiring'fintroduced through-9. central open-A 'ingimay be ledlinto the passagelfthe horiizontalportion of the partitionmember is turned :upwardlynadjacent-l the openings to which the passage leads fwith the edge-of this upwardly y' turndpo'rtionV 33 lying substantially the plane offth'eltop-of "the sidewalls. v

rif'lA'toppositer corners ofvV the boxgthe partition member isfcut awayV to leave spaces134 andthe :horizontal portion of the member has vdownward flanges :35 along the edgeslof eachaspace, which contact with'gtheb'ottom offtheibox. :iA passage -.isf'then provided -across .the .box beneath "the Y partitionrfmember at oneside-of thefpassagel3l,

and 'the :passage 36' extends' from a -du'ct opening 122l -in ione wallv to fthe iduct opening? 221 AYin the =op top by the top member ofthe box. Y

To; facilitate making connections in theY Wir- Vpositefwall. .l One side Ywall of Vthis passage` is 'formed by a flange 3U, andthe passage is closed at its bottom bygthe bottom of the box and at its other side by a side Vwall, of the box and by the downward flange on Vthe partitionV member.

Asimilar passage` 31 beneathA the partition'mems ber and parallel with the passage 36 lies on the other' side of the passageV 3|, passage 31,con

' necting duct openings 24 inopposite walls of the box and beingfclosed at'its bottom by theV Y bottom ofthe box and at its sides by a flange `30, i, the side wall of Vthe box,V and the edge flange on the partition member. AtA one endof'eachof V the passages 36 and 31, the horizontal portion ofthe partition member is turnedup as at133 so thatV access to these passages throughthe duct f'openings'in the WallsV of the .box mayV be'had.

Extending across the `box abovefthe partition` member at one'side of passage 29'is a passage 38 connecting duct openings 24 in opposite walls of the: box, and.Y this` passage; is defined in parti V Vvby a iiange 28, the horizontal `portion` of the partition member, Vthe side wall of the box and `the upwardly turned part'V 33; of theY partition member. Qn thepother side of lthe passage 29, thereis a passage 39 extending over the'parti- `Y tion member and connecting ducty openings V22,in

opposite .walls of the'box. V'I'his passage.. is denedjinthesame way asithepassage38, and the passages 29 38, andf39 are all closed atthe Y ing, it is desirable that the passage 31 connecting the duct openings `24 and extending beneathV the partition member shouldcommunicate with Y the passage 3BV extending across the box .above VVVthe place where the passages cross andythere- Y the -partition member at right angles -to passage 31 and also ,connectingduct openings 24 in oppositewalls of the box.v For Vthis purpose,.the partition member has nov horizontalportionat fore, in onecorner'o'f. the box, V the two passages are open to one another. Passage 36, extending beneath the partition member, likewise hasa portion in'commony withpassage 39,` a `part `of' the horizontal portionof the partition member havingbeen omitted for the purpose.`

VThe cut-away-corners of the sidewalls of the boxhave blank walls 40.,Whic`h'maybe'tapped for the reception of conduits `forifeed'w'ires and behind two of these wallslying diagonally across the box, the `partition member is formed fas;

previously'mentioned to provide the Vspaces ,34, for the introduction of thewiring. VVThe downwardly extending edge ange 35 along the edge Vof each space 34 restson the bottom; of the box vand thus serves to prevent contactofjfeed Vwir-,-

ing for one tension withsystem wiring `ofanother` tension.

'Resting on the topgjoffthe side walls. 0i` the lbottomY member is 4a topf4|, held in `place by 'screws in the usual way. This top member is' .Y formed to'cooperate withithelside walls of the box and the. vertical members25 so Yas -to complete 'theopenings 22,' 23,V and i24, in which theV 'ends ofthe ducts are received, and the top cari priesgrounding screws `42 which can b e driven into engagement with'thefductends to holdthem in place'andground the ducts to the box. `In Vtlfierniddle of the top, there is a circular openithe outside' of theiflange thereV is a circumfer- `V,ential channel 43. 'The openingis suiieiently large to overlie-'portions of the passages 29;;38

anda above Vthe partition member, includingVV Y of the wcover 44 relative.V to the oor surface, .the .collar is supported yon `adjustment screws 5I 2,046,351 ffl.;

parts of those passageswhere access s `provided i to thepassages 3|, 36, and 31 beneaththe partition member.

VVVThe top ofthe box is provided withfacover 'Y 44 which -may beroi` any suitable type.s The cover construction Vshown in my copending application, Serial'No."699,649, filed'November 25, i

1,933, of,v which this application isa division, offers numerous advantages wheniemployedin boxes o f f the general form described, and I have accordingly 10 shown its adaptation to the new box in the drawf ing. Y;V A, Y As illustrated, the cover. comprises a collar 45.

Ysurrounding the yupstanding flange 4| of the Yopening'fan'd having an inner circumferential :flange 146 overlying the Vtop of the flange 4l.

Mounted .in the upper end ofthe collar on the inner flange 46 is'aQcover plate 41 Which'is held inplaceby screws 48'passing throughthe plate andv into lugs 49 on flange-4I A packing wash- Yer 50 Vis interposed between the'coverplate and theV flange VV46 to Y make Vthe l. construction Vwaters tight. In order to Yprovidefor'proper leveling which are. threaded into :the lugs .49, and theV collar is'held in adjusted zposition'on the ange v by Y means of holding screws 52 which pass through a portion of thefcollar and into 'the 30 lugs 49.

rIfhe newrbox affords numerous advantagesV over junction boxes heretofore usedV in .three duct systems in that: it isf simple `and relativelyk inexpensive tomake Vand of, rugged construe-.l 7 tion so that it will withstand handling during 35- shipmentand installation. Aside fromfthe cover construction," the box comprises only three mainl Y parts, namely,the bottom, the partition member," Vand the top, and these can all 4be madexor. 40.

metal at low cost;

What I claim Y 1. A` box for `-use in=under1oor-duet` systems which comprises a body V havingjavbottomV withVV a flatinner surface and vopposedside -wallswith body and removable -as a partitionY member havingA VspacedA vertical elements onV its top partly dening a vpassage ex# Vtending'. across the misnomer` 4sait-1 V'membei'and 5K5- connecting aligned duct openings* iii the Kop.-`V posed side {walls of thebody,-spaced vertical `elements on its under side terminating adja-V cent the` innersurface ofthe bottom of thebody and cooperating with saidV bottom partly tol delllne a passage beneath. vsaid member extending between alignedv duct *openings in 'the opposed 1 sidewalls of thebody and lying at an angle.

to' said* .passageV fl'rst'mentionedj and generally in'an anglebe- 6.5

horizontalelements, eachlying l l tween said passages "andforming' the topjof a passage beneathsaid memberfconnecting aset 1 of aligned duct openings in opposed Asidewalls vof `the bodyfand the bottom of a similar passage abovesaid member, ksaid member lyingsubstan-[mr tially in the planeof the Vbottom"ofsaid 'duct openingsand having portions extending upward Y substantially to the`"tcp oi.' said openings; fsald portions lying at the'en'dsof'the passages"b e-l u neath said member.

a Vcover forthe top "5o 2. A box for use in underoor duct systems which comprises a body having a bottom with a flat inner surface and opposed side walls with openings in all said walls lying with their bottom edges substantially in a plane spaced above the bottom for the reception of the ends of ducts, a. top mounted on the upper ends of said side walls and having an opening leading to the interior of the body, a cover for the top opening, and a partition member within the body and removable as a unit therefrom, said partition member having spaced vertical elements on its top partly denng a passage extending across the box over said member and connecting aligned duct openings in the opposed side walls of the body, spaced vertical elementston its under side terminating adjacent the inner surface of the bottom of the body and cooperating with said bottom partly to define a passage beneath said member extending between aligned duct openings in the opposed side walls of the body and lying at an angle to said passage first mentioned, and generally horizontal elements, each lying in an angle between said passages and forming the top of a passage beneath said member connecting a set of aligned duct openings in opposed side walls of the body, and the bottom of a similar passage above said member, said horizontal elements each having a downwardly extending flange opposed to and spaced inwardly from a corner of the body of the box.

3. A box for use in underfloor duct systems which comprises a. body having a bottom with a flat inner surface and opposed side walls with openings in all said walls lying with their bottom edges substantially in a. plane spaced above the bottom for the reception of the ends of ducts, said body having cut-off'corners adapted to be tapped for the reception of conduits, a top mounted on the upper ends of said side walls and having an opening leading to the interior ofthe body, a cover for the top opening, and a partition member within the body and removableV as a unit therefrom, said partition member having spaced vertical elements on its top partly defining a passage extending across the box over said member and connecting aligned duct openings in the opposed side walls of the body, spaced vertical elements on its under side terminating adjacent the inner surface of the bottom of the body and cooperating with said bottom partly to define a passage beneath said member extending between aligned duct openings in the opposed side walls of the body and lying atan angle to said passage first mentioned, and generally horizontal elements, each lying in an .angle between said passages and forming the top of a passage beneath said member connecting a set of aligned duct openings in opposed side walls of the body, and the bottom of a similar passage above said member, said member lying substantially in the plane of the bottom of said duct openings and having portions extending upward substantially to the top of said openings at the ends of the passages beneath said member, each horizontal element also having a downwardly extending flange opposed to and spaced inwardly from a cut-off corner of said body.

HERVEY S. WALKER. 

